Lawrence Chow / ENT Doctor
3 Best Cures for Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms
When you’re sneezing non stop after a dusting session at home, or you find yourself with an itchy and runny nose after visiting the pet shop, chances are, you have allergic rhinitis. It’s a very common disease and it affects 20% of the human population.
Medical experts can only explain how it happens but they don’t have an idea what causes it in the first place. There are several remedies, and thanks to medical advances, rhinitis is just one antihistamine pill away. If you opt for homeopathic remedies, some ingredients are readily available at a supermarket. Read more to find out.
Avoiding your allergens.
We’ll start off with preventive measures because “prevention is the best cure.” The very first step to not suffer allergies is to find out which allergen your body reacts to. Thankfully, you can go to a clinic for some tests but if you’d like a fancier experience, you can visit an immunologist and allergy expert.
They will conduct several tests so you can find out which allergen you’re most averse to. We’ll give you a heads up – the most common cause for allergic rhinitis are either of the following: dust, pollen, and dander. The first allergen can be avoided by keeping your home clean, the second one – by staying indoors, and the last one by opting for short haired or hairless breeds, or other pet alternatives (if you still want to keep a pet, that is)
Antihistamines.
Over-the-counter brands for antihistamines include Claritin, Benadryl, and Allegra. Most of these histamines work the same way – they reduce the activity of histamine receptors that are the primary cause for the sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes and throat.
Because they limit the production of an immune response, that means an absence of defensive barriers like mucus. You’ll probably need to drink water or use a humidifier in addition to taking the medications because your nasal passages and your throat will dry out. As with any other medication, always consult your physician prior to taking these drugs.
Corticosteroids.
If the antihistamines only acted on receptors, corticosteroids are medications that act on the hormones associated with producing histamines. This means that you won’t suffer the symptoms of rhinitis and the added benefit of not having to experience dryness in your mucous membranes.
The only downside to this is that it has to be taken as a preventive medication. It means that once the allergies have started, taking corticosteroids will reduce the severity of existing symptoms but at this point, taking an antihistamine is the better option.
Some popular corticosteroids for allergies include dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone under the brand names Dilacort, Pevanti, Decadron, or Dexpak.
These are just some of the few medications to the symptomatic treatment of allergies. There are homeopathic remedies too, but be careful as some of these all natural remedies still remain untested and may not be medically approved.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
4 Self-Help Options for A Choking Accident
People usually rush into panic when they’re choking and will instinctively ask for water if they can still speak. If people are around, they can ask for help either by calling an ambulance and letting them perform a Heimlich maneuver. If choking is not resolved, it can lead to loss of consciousness, and possibly death.
In the extremely rare case you choke and you are alone, the following steps ensure your chances of survival.
1．Stay calm and do not expend unnecessary effort.
You want your body to not demand too much oxygen and the best way to do this is by moving only as much as necessary. Your blood has limited oxygen supply and you’re only conscious as long as your heart is able to pump blood efficiently.
Any erratic behavior or forceful movements can increase your heart’s activity and your body will respond by consuming more oxygen to burn energy, and in turn, this will signal the brain for you to breathe more. This places you at a greater risk by letting the object go down deeper in your airways.
2．Call 999 immediately.
WIth the limited amount of time on your hand, calling for a first responder is important. If you’re able to talk, that’s good news. Waste no breath in telling your name and address (and of course the fact that you’re choking).
3．Perform Heimlich maneuver on yourself.
Your body is amazing at self-preservation. If you find yourself coughing, do not attempt to suppress it. Cough forcefully until the foregin object drops out. If it doesn’t work in the first few quick tries then it’s time to perform a Heimlich maneuver.
Position yourself so your body is parallel to the floor. You can do this by resting the upper half of your body on a counter or chair. Using one of your hands balled up in a fist, position it above the navel and cover it with your other hand. Try to push inwards and upwards at the same time in quick thrusts.
4．Ask for help from the nearest person.
If you live with neighbors in an apartment, it’s usually smarter to rush for help to allow them to do the Heimlich maneuver on you. This is the best method as you will no longer be able to perform Heimlich on yourself if you’re unconscious. The person in charge of an unconscious individual can do CPR until help arrives.
Nobody has to undergo these tedious steps so the best way is to avoid the risk of choking altogether.
5．How to avoid choking:
- Eat food slowly and in bite sized amounts only.
- Refrain from eating too much while drunk.
- Refrain from getting drunk.
- Be careful with sticky food i.e. prepare water or beverage to help push down the food.
- Avoid talking while chewing.
- Alternate eating and drinking to help facilitate swallowing.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
4 Things To Do Immediately When You Lose Your Voice
Loss of voice or a hoarseness in the voice isn’t life threatening but when it gets in the way of communicating with your family or friends, it can be very inconvenient. Perhaps you’d stayed longer than usual at a karaoke place or you may have gotten too excited at the winner of the World Cup Series.
Laryngitis happens for a number of reasons. It can be caused by an infection, a strained vocal cord, or a combination of the two. Regardless of the reason, here list 4 things to do when you lose your voice to help you get your voice back.
1．Zip it, Thanos.
The very first thing you want to do after losing your voice is refraining from talking. Your larynx has muscle components and gets worked out very similar to how you train your muscles in the gym. Making sure it gets ample rest gives it time to heal itself.
Laryngitis resolves itself in a week and usually does not need hospitalization or medications. Keeping quiet is all you need to do.
2．Avoid coffee.
Hot beverages are supposed to help someone with a sore throat right? The answer to that is yes, and the reason why coffee isn’t helpful despite being a hot beverage is that it does more harm than good.
Caffeine is a diuretic – it will make you have frequent visits to the bathroom and the only way to get back what you’ve lost is drinking lots of water. That’s why vocal coaches stress on the importance of keeping hydrated. It’s the same method in the fitness industry where hydration is very important to muscle recovery. Your ability to speak is possible because of these muscles.
3．Sleep.
More often than not, laryngitis is an aftermath of a very tiring cheering squad practice or an intense singing lesson. Sleeping will help direct your body’s efforts in repairing the damaged parts.
It’s also easier for the heart to pump blood when you’re horizontal, and blood rich with nutrients and oxygenated red blood cells will help repair your voice box.
4．Use a humidifier.
These devices work by delivering moist air into the surrounding area. They’re not only useful for people afflicted with allergies, but they’re also good for people who have lost their voice. If drinking water is painful, then delivering moisture by breathing it in is an alternative.
If your humidifier has an option to use a cool or warm mist, choose the cool one if you’re experiencing severe inflammation. If the laryngitis is caused by an infection, it’s more ideal to use the warm mist setting. The additional warmth will kill most bacteria as they don’t survive above normal body temperatures.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
4 Unlikely Diseases Linked to A Loss of Smell
Anosmia or the absence of the sense of smell became popular recently due to its inclusion on the list of symptoms for COVID19. But anosmia isn’t only limited to COVID19. There are other diseases that can cause you to lose your sense of smell. Here are some of them:
1．Sinusitis.
Sinuses are the little holes and spaces in your skull that contain pockets of air. They help lighten the weight of the skull and also act as ducts or drainage for mucus. When sinuses get clogged, bacteria may proliferate and cause an infection. The resulting sinusitis will cause fever and a feeling of heaviness in the head.
A loss of smell happens due to the pressure exerted by the enlarged sinuses near the nose, affecting your ability to breathe in and discern differences in scent. So the next time you think you have COVID because you can’t taste your guac toast, it’s probably just sinusitis.
2．Aneurysm.
Brain aneurysms are more fatal than COVID and a loss of smell may be indicative that one already has a brain aneurysm. Enlarged blood vessels near the brain may press on nerves that are responsible for detecting smell. These blood vessels can rupture and can cause increased intracranial pressure that may lead to a loss of consciousness and even death.
The good news is your risk for aneurysm decreases significantly if: a) you don’t smoke; b) maintaining a healthy blood pressure, c) limiting caffeine intake; and d) exercising. Currently, there is no guaranteed way to predict or completely prevent aneurysms, so we all have to make changes to our lifestyles.
3．Schizophrenia.
A study published in 2009 studies the specific relationship between anosmia and schizophrenia, and posits that the lack of sense of smell can be a warning sign or can indicate the early onset of the neurological disease.
One of the most powerful memory triggers is smell, and a schizophrenic patient will have trouble remembering things. The part of the brain affected relative to the occurrence of schizophrenia is also responsible for helping us distinguish scents. Anosmia can also be linked to other neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
There have been reports of COVID causing people to be forgetful so the distinction between COVID19 and early onset of schizophrenia becomes smaller, if basing on anosmia alone.
4．Paget’s disease of bones.
Paget’s disease makes bones brittle and causes bone formation to be irregular. This means individuals affected by Paget’s disease can experience a fracture, only to find the healed bone to be misaligned, or worse, deformed.
How does this affect loss of smell? In the same way sinusitis does. In rare cases, Paget’s disease will involve facial bones that grow in abnormal shapes. If these bones press on nerves in the brain or face, the loss of smell goes away. Nerve blockage is common in Paget’s disease and most complaints are due to pinched spinal nerves.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
What Causes White Spots in Your Tongue?
White spots in your tongue is a sign of disorder in your system. What disorder will depend on the cause of the presence of these white spots. Essentially, we need to know the cause and there are several causes for this.
Reasons for White Spots on Tongue
- Dehydration: this condition can lead to build-up of bacteria on your tongue that will evolve into white spots.
- Allergy: often an allergic reaction can develop white patches on your tongue.
- Oral Sanitation: poor habits in oral care can swell the tiny taste buds that then catches bacteria or debris that coat it white.
- Canker Sores: painful white ulcers may appear wherever in the oral cavity and also on your tongue. This discomfort appears due to stress, body heat, or nutritional deficiencies.
- Hot Food: a thermal burn on your tongue from extra hot food or drinks can give you white spots that may pester you for a week or two.
- Injury: that white spots may appear because you accidentally bit your tongue, or a broken tooth has nudged it, or an ill-fit denture.
- Transient Lingual Papillitis: this odd-sounding name is just the taste buds swelling with white spots at the tip which they also call as lie bumps.
- Oral Thrush: also called candidiasis, this is a yeast infection wherein white spots on your tongue will appear because on an imbalance of bacteria in your mouth.
- Oral Lichen Planus: an autoimmune condition where mucus membranes in the mouth and tongue are affected resulting in white patches that can become open sores.
- Geographic Tongue: so called because your tongue, with red patches that are encircled with a white band, will appear like a map. This condition may disappear by itself.
- Leukolakia: mucus membrane irritation may lead to white lines or bumps on or under your tongue and mouth. This may result from bad dentures or smoking.
- Oral Cancer: this may manifest as white bumps on your tongue or mouth but may not be if not with other symptoms such as baffling bleeding, pain in the ears, sore throat, uneasy to chew.
Home Remedies the Natural Way
Several of the causes for white spots are nothing serious which home remedies can handle. A few of these are: salt or baking soda rinse for gargle, baking soda paste, tea tree oil or coconut oil or apple cider mouthwash.
Emergency Signals
See an ENT doctor immediately when any of these occur:
- persistent sore;
- large sores spreading;
- acute pain;
- with high fever;
- trouble eating and swallowing.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
5 Ways to Treat Nasal Polyps at Home
Nasal polyps are growths located in the interior part of nostrils and the nasopharyngeal cavity. The cause is unknown and is commonly associated with other diseases like allergic rhinitis, asthma, sinusitis and some upper respiratory tract infections.
These growths are benign but there are several studies that point to cases of malignant tumors developing from the polyps. In severe cases, the number of polyps becomes significant enough to cause breathing problems and will need surgical removal.
The following is a list of things you can do at home to reduce your chances of developing nasal polyps, and if you have one, what remedies you can do to ease the discomfort associated with the disease.
1．Over-the-counter corticosteroids.
Depending on the state you live in, your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter corticosteroids to help you breathe easier. These work by reducing the size of the nasal polyps, freeing up room for air to pass in the nasal cavity.
The best time to take corticosteroids would be at night, or simply follow the instructions provided in the prescription. Corticosteroids dampen the immune system and also reduce inflammation and swelling.
2．Nasal sprays.
Nasal sprays provide quick relief for obstructed nasal airways. They work by reducing the inflammation and swelling. Some nasal sprays also come with a mint scent that should give a cooling sensation.
Nasal sprays can have a solution of corticosteroids or decongestants or both. Be careful in using nasal sprays, as some health experts have identified a possible side effect of the overuse of nasal sprays called rebound congestion.
3．Steam therapy.
Steam therapy is also a good choice for people with nasal polyps. The steam will provide moisture to the dry and clogged environment inside the nasal cavity. This should facilitate an easier time breathing.
Some essential oils can also be added in the water while doing a steam therapy. Eucalyptus, lavender, and chamomile all have calming effects and should make your steam therapy experience a better one.
4．Cayenne pepper.
And no, you’re not supposed to inhale cayenne pepper because it will irritate your lungs. Instead, you can include cayenne pepper in your diet. The warmth that capsaicin (the primary compound that produces the spicy sensation) causes will help your body produce mucus.
Mucus works as a lubricant and in nasal polyps, this will help the polyps reposition to allow you to breathe. It’s also the main reason why you clear your throat after eating spicy food because it also acts as bronchodilator and vasodilator (both of which means to dilate lung airways and blood vessels).
5．Antihistamines.
The drug used for treating the symptoms of allergies is also the same for nasal polyps. It has a similar action to corticosteroids and helps reduce swelling. Antihistamines don’t suppress the immune system as strongly as steroids so people with nasal polyps can opt for a Benadryl instead.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
6 Foods That Can Cause Reflux Esophagitis
Esophagitis is a secondary complication of GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Esophagitis develops due to the combined action of stomach acids constantly eroding the epithelial lining and opportunistic bacterial infections.
It’s very important that people should avoid foods that aggravate the inflammation. In today’s article, we’re going to list the top food items that can worsen esophagitis and why you should avoid them.
1．Coffee.
Most people start their day with coffee but for the unlucky people with GERD, it’s not advised. Coffee has a lower pH and that means it’s more acidic. In addition to being acidic, caffeine also promotes the production of gastric acids than can further irritate the esophageal lining.
2．Chocolate.
Chocolate candies and bars also contain significant amounts of caffeine. It’s a dietary exclusion for people with GERD and peptic ulcers as it works in the same way caffeine does.
Chocolate is basically a drug cocktail and contains substances that alter the nervous system’s normal functioning. It helps the brain stimulate the production of endorphins, serotonins, and dopamines (also colloquially known as “feel good” hormones). These hormones inhibit smooth muscle contraction, and if the esophageal sphincter fails to constrict properly, stomach acids can damage the esophagus which can lead to further inflammation.
3．Tomatoes.
Eating spaghetti or any pasta with tomato sauce in it can worsen cases of esophagitis. Tomatoes have both alkaline and acidic compounds and despite not being related to oranges, it contains substantial amounts of citrus acids.
4．Eggs.
Eggs are naturally alkaline foods and should help reduce the frequency of esophagitis. But they’re also rich in proteins and any food rich in protein will likely cause increased acid production.
Proteins induce strong acid production in the stomach because they’re resistant to being dissolved. Eggs also contain A LOT of fatty compounds, which also belong in the same category with protein in terms of inducing acid production.
5．Salty food.
Salty food may seem innocent in the eyes of people with GERD and esophagitis but slt has an unusual interaction in the stomach that can lead to a case of esophagitis.
Salt draws water from its surroundings and if there is enough sodium present in the stomach, it will start drawing out the water from the cells that make up the lining of the stomach and esophagus. To restore the naturally low pH of the stomach, parietal cells produce more hydrochloric acid which can trigger ulcers, heartburn, and esophagitis.
6．Mints.
A mint or two to help the mouth smell less unpleasant after a drinking session is actually a bad idea for people with esophagitis. People with esophagitis and GERD should not be drinking alcohol in the first place.
Alcohol does a good job in dehydrating the body’s first response is to vomit excess amounts of the toxin. The combination of vomiting, the corrosiveness of alcohol, and stomach acids will increase the likelihood of developing esophagitis. And did we also forget to tell you about the bacteria?
Bacteria may become opportunistic when not in their usual habitat. In this case, gut bacteria that proliferate in the esophagus can lead to an infection and inflammation.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
5 Tips To Follow To Avoid Nasopharyngeal Cancer
We’ve talked about how certain types of foods or activities cause throat cancer and general types of cancer.
Nasopharyngeal cancer is one of the many types of cancer associated with the ENT (ears, nose, and throat). It’s also one of the rarest types and only occurs in 1 out of 100,000 individuals. The risk associated with developing nasopharyngeal cancer increases with age and can happen at any age.
Today, we’re going to list some of the things you can do to avoid nasopharyngeal cancer.
1．Quit smoking!
Although there have been no studies directly linking nasopharyngeal cancer to tobacco use, quitting smoking has a lot of benefits. This also reduces your risk for other types of cancer that may develop complications or metastasize to different areas of your body, including the back of your throat.
2．Reduce alcohol intake.
There is a study that confirmed the role of alcohol in causing multitude types of cancer by direct physical contact alone. Alcohol coming into contact with epithelial cells increases their chances of mutating and spreading.
Since nasopharyngeal cancer is so rare, not much study has been focused on its relationship to alcohol intake. This does not mean alcohol is ruled out, as several studies have pointed out that alcohol certainly causes a lot of other types of cancers, of which its severity matches that of smoking.
3．Limit the consumption of cured meats.
Nasopharyngeal cancer has higher incidence rates in parts of the world where a staple of their diet includes cured meat or fish. Nasopharyngeal cancer affects more Chinese and individuals from South East Asia.
Studies in the UK also revealed that immigrants of Chinese descent still had the same probability of developing nasopharyngeal cancer, and have attributed the cause to cured or dried fish. Compounds called nitrates or nitrites which form during the curing process are known to have mutagenic effects on human cells.
4．Don’t neglect allergic rhinitis.
It turns out this harmless illness causing thousands of people unnecessary discomfort can increase one’s chances of developing nasopharyngeal cancer. A study conducted in Taiwan revealed that people who have had more than four visits to a clinic for their rhinitis complaints had more chances of developing nasopharyngeal cancer.
They determined the probable cause was due to chronic and repeated nasal inflammation that resulted in epithelial cells mutating and developing into cancerous types. Don’t forget to take your antihistamines!
5．Eating more fruits and vegetables.
We’ve heard of this so many times before and it’s become a cliche but it still holds true. By doing the exact opposite of what’s causing NPC, an individual has lesser chances of developing the disease.
The way it works is that a steady supply of much needed vitamins and minerals keep cells healthier. Cells only function at their best if the DNA is resistant to disintegration or mutation. Vegetables or fruits have the necessary compounds to maintain the structural integrity of the DNA, decreasing the chances of developing any type of cancer, NPC included.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
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另所有文章內使用的人名均為化名。